Atheists are more intelligent than religious people according to dozens of studies.

Miron Zuckerman – Jordan Silberman and Judith A. Hall from the University of Rochester and the Northeastern University conducted a meta-analysis (that’s a statistical analysis that combines the results of multiple scientific studies) of 63 studies that showed a significant negative association between intelligence and religiosity.

The association was strongest among university students and weakest in teenagers and children.

It was also stronger for religious beliefs than religious behaviour.

In effect people who believe religious teachings as opposed to those practising religions.

Religiosity was defined as ‘the degree of involvement in some or all facets of religion’.

This included beliefs in supernatural agents and ‘costly commitments to these agents’ such as offering of property as a sacrifice.

Another ‘facet’ is participating in communal rituals – such as going to church and ‘lower existential anxieties such as death due to a belief in supernatural agents’ (i.e. being less scared of death because you believe you’re going to heaven).